Contributed by Orkin, LLC
Chicago has established itself as the No. 1 city on Orkin’s list of the 50 Best Bed Bug Cities of 2022 for the second year in a row, with Philadelphia and New York moving up to second and third place, respectively. These two Northeast cities saw the biggest jumps, with Philadelphia climbing 12 places and New York climbing nine places. Newcomers to the list were Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, at number 42, and Lincoln, Nebraska, just creeping in at number 50.
Over the past year, as travel has revived in the US, restless Americans – and bed bugs – have been hitchhiking across the country for short vacations. As consumers plan trips in 2022 amid the evolving pandemic, it’s easy to forget that bed bugs are still a major threat. Given the understaffing in the hospitality industry, bed bug introductions may not be monitored as often as desired, so careful investigation is essential.
The list is based on treatment data from the metro areas where Orkin performed the most bed bug treatments from December 1, 2020 to November 30, 2021. The ranking includes both domestic and commercial treatments.
1.Chicago
2.Philadelphia (+12)
3. New York (+9)
4.Detroit
5.Baltimore (-3)
6. Indianapolis (+1)
7. Washington, D.C. (-4)
8. Cleveland, Ohio (-2)
9. Columbus, Ohio (-4)
10. Cincinnati (-2)
11. Grand Rapids, Michigan (-1)
12 Los Angeles (-3)
13. Champaign, IL (+2)
14 Atlanta (-1)
15.Charlotte, N.C. (-4)
16. Dallas-Ft. value
17 Denver (+3)
18.Louis, MO (+7)
19. San Francisco (+3)
20 Pittsburgh (-1)
21 Greenville, SC (+2)
22. Charleston, West Virginia (-4)
23. Flintstone, MI (-2)
24. Raleigh, NC (-7)
25. Norfolk, Va. (-1)
26. Richmond, Va
27. Omaha (+3)
28. Buffalo, NY (+1)
29. Knoxville (+7)
30. Cedar Rapids, IA (+5)
31. Toledo, Ohio (-4)
32. Dayton, Ohio (-4)
33. South Bend, IN (+8)
34. Nashville (-3)
35. Davenport, IA (+3)
36. Wayne, IN (-3)
37. Youngstadt (+3)
38. Milwaukee (-6)
39. Miami (+8)
40.Tampa (-1)
41 Houston (-4)
42. Harrisburg (new to list)
43. Greensboro, NC (-9)
44.Seattle
45. Peoria, IL (+4)
46. Orlando (-1)
47. Lexington, Ky. (-4)
48. Lansing, MI
49.Louisville, Kentucky (-3)
50. Lincoln, NE (new to list)
Typically bed bugs are 3/16 inch long, red to dark brown in color and are mostly nocturnal insects that come out of hiding to take blood meals from sleeping humans. These pests are hematophagous, meaning blood is their only source of food. You can easily travel from place to place and hold on to items like luggage, purses, and other personal belongings.
“Bed bugs are a problem for everyone because they are masterful hitchhikers, traveling home with people when they probably aren’t aware,” says Ben Hottel, an Orkin entomologist. “Their nature of hiding in hard-to-find cracks and crevices can make them difficult to control, which is why it’s recommended to consult a trained professional when seeing an introduction.”
Bed bugs are known for rapid population growth. Females can lay one to five eggs per day and can lay 200 to 500 eggs in their lifetime. They can survive for several months while awaiting their next blood meal, so they’re likely to emerge when a food source, such as a food source, becomes available. B. humans, becomes available.
“Unfortunately, many hospitality businesses face staffing shortages, and while the industry remains committed to cleanliness, now more than ever, travelers should be alert to bed bug sightings and be proactive in inspection efforts,” says Hötel.
Click here for bed bug screening and prevention tips.
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